One in three babies have all the signs of asthma — coughing wheezing and a tight chest usually when they have a cold.

Remember babies and young children in day care get about 10 colds a year and each lasts about two weeks — so that's a lot of coughing and wheezing for some babies.

The firm diagnosis of asthma is not usually made before the age of six years old as many babies and young children appear to have all the symptoms of asthma but as their tiny airways grow so the coughing and wheezing disappears.

Babies may well be prescribed asthma inhalers when only a few months old and parents worry and ask their doctor whether this is asthma. Most doctors will say let's wait and see.

So what is the doctor waiting for?

Your doctor is waiting to see if these episodes of wheezing and coughing recur and may be looking for other signs too such as...

n Sensitive skin such as eczema or hives.

n Food allergies.

n Sinus allergies — (sneezes a lot, sniffs and rub their nose after the age of three years).

n Red watery eyes.

Bermuda has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the world, accurate statistics from The Department of Health shows us that one in five children between the ages of five and 18 years have asthma while in the US this number is one in 10 and UK one in seven.

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Which babies are more likely to cough and wheeze?

n Babies with a family member with asthma and allergies.

n Boys — as their lungs take longer to develop — in fact two boys to every one girl in the first three years of life will wheeze!

n Premature babies are more likely to cough and wheeze with every cold until the age of six years old and only if they show other signs such as eczema or food allergies would firm diagnoses of asthma be made sooner.

n Babies who have been exposed to cigarette smoke either before or after birth are likely to have damaged lungs and be much more prone to chest infections and have asthma which may last a lifetime.

n Babies exposed to chemicals in the home especially air fresheners, aerosols and sprays used to clean windows, bathrooms and furniture. Plug-in air fresheners and incense can also irritate tiny airways.

n Babies who sit in bouncy chairs, car seats, swings and strollers for most of the day are more likely to wheeze as their lungs will not be given the opportunity to expand and develop as they should.

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How can you help your baby?

n Never expose your baby to cigarette smoke during pregnancy or after birth.

n Expectant mothers should eat a healthy diet and have at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Studies show that when a pregnant woman has a diet low in antioxidants she is more likely to have a wheezy baby.

n Clean your home without chemicals using a vacuum cleaner and microfibre cloths.

n Open windows in every room every day.

n Encourage plenty of tummy time for babies to help to develop the tiny airways. Make babies reach for toys to encourage deep breaths and good muscle tone.

n Toddlers and older children should play outside running, climbing and swinging on the monkey bars is particularly good for lung development.

n Swim! Swimming is the best sport for the lungs!

n Play any wind instrument from a harmonica, recorder to a trumpet!

n Play with windmills and bubbles.

If your child is diagnosed with asthma reach out for help — learn all you can and remember the goal is control — no one need suffer with asthma.

Some of the greatest athletes in the world have asthma.

Contact Open Airways 232 0264 or e-mail lizboden@logic.bm for an appointment.

Go to www.openairways.com for more information.